Each February, the Dallas County Master Gardener Association holds its annual awards meeting to recognize service and achievements across the organization for the prior year. The 2025 Awards Ceremony was held on February 26, 2026, at the Highland Park Presbyterian Church.

Zandra Faris, DCMGA President, kicked off the meeting by recognizing DCMGA’s 2025 contribution to Dallas County Communities. The stats were incredible! In 2025 DCMGA members contributed a whopping 43,271 volunteer hours, averaging 112 hours per volunteer, representing a monetary value of $1,505,406, and produced 26,286 pounds of produce for the Dallas County Community.

Additionally, Zandra recognized the outstanding contributions of our Class Captains, Project Leaders, DCMGA Board & Committee Members, and our 2025 Making A Difference Recipients. Norma Massu was recognized as the Class Captain for 2025 and received the Bouquet pin.

Mary Kay Eastep was the Master of Ceremonies for the Awards & Recognition portion of the meeting! As always, she dazzled the group with a fabulous presentation (even handing out some additional awards of her own) and kept the meeting on track!

Nineteen members of the anniversary class of 2020 were recognized for 5 years of service and presented with their Gold Name Badges. Twelve members of the anniversary class of 2015 were recognized for 10 years of service and received their Platinum Name Badge. There were 5 members of the Class of 2010 recognized for 15 years of service, and they were presented with Platinum Name Badges, including one star. Thirteen members of the Class of 2005 were recognized for 20 years of service, and received a Platinum Name badge with two stars, and one member of the Class of 2000, Donna Marchant, was recognized for 25 years of service and she received a Platinum Name Badge with 3 stars.

The Texas Master Gardener Emeritus award was presented to Dick Coupe.  The Texas Master Gardener Emeritus is an honorary title awarded to a retired Extension Master Gardener volunteer who has served the Extension Master Gardener Program with distinction. Dick has served as a devoted Texas Master Gardener in Dallas County since 2003, contributing over 3000 hours of volunteer service. While he willingly served in a variety of roles, the highlight was his term as Texas Master Gardener Association President in 2014. Dick received a framed certificate signed by Horticulture Agent Anne LeSenne, an Emeritus pin, and a Black Emeritus badge for his contributions to DCMGA.

Kevin Burns was recognized as the 2025 Speaker of the Year. He received the Tree of Learning pin for delivering 21 presentations, educating 811 gardeners with varying levels of gardening experience, and volunteering 2019 hours in 2025.

The amount of cumulative hours Master Gardeners achieved in 2025 is impressive!

• 114 Master Gardeners and 6 Interns were awarded Gold Stars for 100 hours in 2025
• 13 Master Gardeners were recognized for 250 cumulative hours and received a Bronze State pin
• 15 Master Gardeners were recognized for 500 cumulative hour and received a Silver State pin.
• 12 Master Gardeners were recognized for 1000 cumulative hours and received a Gold State pin
• 3 Master Gardeners, Patti Brewer, Glen McGee, and Maggie Saucedo received a Trowel pin for achieving 2500 cumulative hours
• 3 Master Gardeners, Ned Buxton, Patricia Gatlin, and Cindy Wabner, received Rose pins for achieving 5000 cumulative hours
• Roseann Ferguson and Tig Thompson both received the Monarch pin for achieving 15,000 cumulative hours AND the Bee pin for achieving 20,000 cumulative hours

The meeting concluded with the “Dirty Dozen” award which goes to 12 DCMGA Master Gardeners with the most logged hours in 2025. Collectively, this group contributed 10,433 hours in 2025! New recipients of the the Dirty Dozen award receive the Gardening Glove pin. The new pin recipients for this group include Lorraine Hellinghausen, Janet Lane, Beverly Long, and Lori Droppo.

The February Awards Meeting was a great opportunity to connect and celebrate with friends and to highlight the DCMGA service and achievement awards available to DCMGA members.

If you were a recipient of an award, but were unable to attend the February meeting, you may collect you pin(s) or badge at the next monthly meeting on March 26^th at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, located at 17360 Coit Road, Dallas, TX 75252.

Additionally, if you were unable to attend, please click here to watch a video of the 2025 Awards Ceremony.